John "Jack" B. Bremner Jr.

April 18, 2000

John "Jack" B. Bremner Jr., 87, was the retired board chairman of Edlong Corp., which manufactures food flavors. Mr. Bremner died Thursday, April 13, in his Northfield home after a long illness. A Navy lieutenant during World War II, he saw action at Okinawa. After the war, he worked at Bremner Biscuit Co., which was founded by his grandfather. The company briefly supplied nearly all the bread in Chicago because it was one of the few left standing after the Great Chicago Fire. He left the firm after it reorganized in the 1950s and went to Edlong Corp. in Elk Grove Village, said his wife, Ruth Ray Bremner. Mr. Bremner retired as chairman of the board in 1995. Mr. Bremner lent his financial support to various organizations, including Loyola University, his alma mater, Southern Poverty Law Center and groups providing education to Native Americans. "He just was very interested in helping people that didn't have the advantages he had," his wife said. Mr. Bremner donated his body to science. Other survivors include two daughters, Nancy Bremner and Jeanne Flanagan; two sons, John and William; three sisters, Loretta Sliney, Sister Nancy Bremner and Elizabeth Cole; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial mass will be said at 10 a.m. Monday, in Sacred Heart Church, 1077 Tower Rd., Winnetka.